Data transmission method, terminal, and access-network network element

ABSTRACT

A data transmission method, a terminal, and an access-network network element are disclosed. An interface is disposed on a policy client of UE and an operating system or an application layer of the UE. The interface is used to provide the operating system or the application layer with a policy related to the operating system or the application layer, and collect, from the operating system or the application layer, information required for a report. In this way, a dedicated transport channel is implemented by a bottom layer of the UE, reports and policies are transmitted on the dedicated transport channel, and during implementation, a protocol is not coupled with the application layer or the operating system, so that the system is simple to implement.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/533,039, filed on Aug. 6, 2019, which is a continuation ofInternational Application No. PCT/CN2017/073064, filed on Feb. 7, 2017.All of the aforementioned patent applications are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to the communications field, and in particular,to a data transmission method, a terminal, and an access-network networkelement.

BACKGROUND

In a 3GPP (the 3^(rd) generation partnership project) communicationssystem, both generation and delivery of a policy by a network side areimplemented on an application layer. A network selection policy is usedas an example. UE (user equipment) supports a plurality of accessnetworks. For example, the UE supports access to a WLAN (wireless localarea network) and a cellular network. To reduce a delay of the UE inaccessing a network, an ANDSF (access network discovery and selectionfunction) network element is defined for an SAE (system architectureevolution) network. The ANDSF network element may formulate an optimalnetwork selection policy for the UE based on information such as alocation reported by the UE and a user preference, and assist the UE inselecting a suitable access network.

In a current policy delivery solution, a policy server is deployed in acore network, and communicates, through an S14 interface, with a policyclient deployed in the UE. The S14 interface is an interface implementedon an IP layer, and the S14 interface is generally implemented by usingan OAM-DM (open mobile alliance-device management) protocol. Thisrequires deployment of the policy client on an application layer of theUE and deployment of the policy server on a network-side applicationlayer. The policy client and the policy server transmit a policy and areport transparently. From the foregoing description, it is learned thatreception and execution of a policy requires support from an operatingsystem and the application layer of the UE, and the implementationprocess is complex. In addition, due to differences in the operatingsystem and the application layer between various manufacturers, it isdifficult to perform unified upgrading and extension.

SUMMARY

A technical problem to be resolved by embodiments of this disclosure isto provide a data transmission method, a terminal, and an access-networknetwork element, to overcome complexity of a process of delivering andexecuting a policy and poor extensibility in the prior art.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosureprovides a data transmission method. In the method, a hierarchy of UE isdivided into an application layer, an operating system, and a hardwarelayer from top downward. The hardware layer includes but is not limitedto a memory, a processor, a modem, a baseband chip, and a transceiver.The operating system is run on the hardware layer, and the applicationlayer includes a variety of applications, and the applications mayinvoke hardware resources and software resources of the UE by using theoperating system. The hardware layer of the UE receives a policy sent bya PCF (policy control function), and the hardware layer of the UEexecutes the policy, where a path through which the PCF sends the policyto the UE is not limited in this embodiment of the present disclosure.For example, the PCF delivers the policy to the UE by using an SMF(session management function), a UPF (user plane function), and an AN(access network) sequentially. For another example, the PCF sends thepolicy to the UE by using the SMF, an AMF, and the AN sequentially.Specifically, the policy may be delivered through an establisheddedicated transport channel or by using NAS (non-access stratum)signaling to carry the policy, or in other manners. This is not limitedin this embodiment of the present disclosure.

In a possible implementation, the PCF may deliver the policy of the UEto the UE by using the AMF, and a specific process thereof may be: ThePCF sends the policy of the UE to the AMF, and marks a priority for thepolicy of the UE, and based on the priority, the PCF differentiallyprocesses the policy when sending the policy to the UE by using the NAS,for example, the priority of sending the policy is lower than that ofsending a mobility management message and/or a session managementmessage. Alternatively, based on a fact that the policy comes from thePCF, the AMF determines the priority of the policy sent to the UE, forexample, the priority of sending the policy is lower than that ofsending a mobility management message and/or a session managementmessage.

In the foregoing embodiment, the UE receives, on the hardware layer, thepolicy delivered by the PCF and executes the policy; and reception andexecution of the policy are not coupled with the operating system, sothat it is convenient to receive and execute the policy in differenttypes of terminals and reduce difficulty of implementation.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, a dedicated transportchannel is established between the UE, the AN, and the UPF. Thededicated transport channel is used only to transmit a policy and areport, and cannot be used to transmit service data. That is, thededicated transport channel transmits reports in an uplink direction andpolicies in a downlink direction, where the uplink direction is from theUE to a core network, and the downlink direction is from the corenetwork to the UE.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the dedicated transportchannel is a PDU session or NAS signaling. That is, a PDU session isestablished between the UE and the UPF, the PDU session is establishedas triggered by the UE, and the PDU session is terminated at the UPF.The PDU session established by the UE is used only to transmit a policyand a report, or the PCF sends to the UE the NAS signaling that is usedto dedicatedly transmit the policy and the report.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the UE triggers theestablishment of the dedicated transport channel, and the UE may triggerthe establishment of the dedicated transport channel in an attachprocedure, by a user, and on an application layer. A network-side devicemay also trigger the establishment of the dedicated transport channel.After establishing the dedicated transport channel, the SMF sendsindication information to the UE. The indication information is used toindicate a type of the dedicated transport channel. Based on theindication information, the UE determines the dedicated transportchannel that is used to transmit the policy and the report.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the policy includes one ormore of a network selection policy, a route selection policy, a sliceselection policy, a work mode selection policy, a session continuitypolicy, and an information reporting policy. The network selectionpolicy is a policy for the UE to select an access network. The accessnetwork includes but is not limited to one or more of a WLAN, a 3Gaccess network, and a 4G access network. The work mode policy is apolicy for the UE to select a work mode. The work mode includes an IoT(Internet of things) work mode, and an MBB (mobile broadband service)work mode. The route selection policy is a policy of selecting a pathfor forwarding a message. The slice selection policy is a policy for theUE to select a slice in the core network, or a policy for an applicationin the UE to select a slice in the core network. The informationreporting policy is a policy for the UE to report information, andspecifically, may be an execution policy of reporting the information.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the executing, by the UE,the policy includes: if the policy is an information reporting policy,receiving, by the UE, the information reporting policy delivered by thePCF. The information reporting policy includes a reporting condition andreport content, the reporting condition is used to indicate a triggercondition of performing reporting by the UE, and the report content isused to indicate a type of information to be reported by the UE. The UEobtains a parameter value of the report content, generates a reportbased on the parameter value, and sends the report to a network-sidedevice if the reporting condition is satisfied. The network-side devicemay be any one of an AN, a UDM (unified data management), or an SMF. Theinformation reporting policy may further include a reporting target,where the reporting target is a destination network element of theinformation to be reported. The information reporting policy may furtherinclude a reporting frequency, and the reporting frequency is a quantityof times the information is reported within a designated time.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the report content includesone or more of a terminal location, a speed, a hardware status, anapplication status, and a network resource occupation status.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the policy is a sliceselection policy, the slice selection policy includes a triggercondition and a slice identifier, and the trigger condition includes oneor more of a designated location, a designated access network type, anda designated time period; and

the executing, by the UE, the policy includes: accessing, by the UE, aslice corresponding to the slice identifier, if the trigger condition issatisfied.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the policy is a sliceselection policy, the slice selection policy includes a triggercondition, a slice identifier, and an application identifier, and thetrigger condition includes one or more of a designated location, adesignated access network type, and a designated time period; and

-   -   the executing, by the UE, the policy includes: instructing, by        the UE if the trigger condition is satisfied, an application        corresponding to the application identifier to access a slice        corresponding to the slice identifier.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the policy is a sessioncontinuity policy, the session continuity policy includes a triggercondition, a session and service continuity SSC mode identifier, and anapplication identifier, and the trigger condition includes one or moreof a designated location, a designated access network type, and adesignated time period; and

-   -   the executing, by the UE, a policy includes: instructing, by the        UE if the trigger condition is satisfied, an application        corresponding to the application identifier to associate with an        SSC mode corresponding to the SSC mode identifier.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of this disclosure providesa data transmission method, including: receiving, by a UPF, a policy ofUE sent by a PCF; determining, by the UPF, a dedicated transportchannel; and loading, by the UPF, the policy to the dedicated transportchannel and sending the channel to the UE, where the dedicated transportchannel is used to transmit the policy of the UE.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the determining, by theUPF, a dedicated transport channel includes: determining, by the UPF,the dedicated transport channel based on indication information sent byan SMF.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the second aspect furtherincludes: extracting, by the UPF from the dedicated transport channel, areport reported by the UE, and forwarding, by the UPF, the report to aUDM; forwarding, by the UPF, the report to the PCF by using the SMF; orforwarding, by the UPF, the report to the PCF directly.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the policy includes one ormore of a network selection policy, a route selection policy, a sliceselection policy, a work mode selection policy, a session mode selectionpolicy, and an information reporting policy.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of this disclosure provides adata transmission method, including: determining, by an AN, a dedicatedtransport channel; receiving, by the AN, a policy of UE delivered by acore-network network element; and delivering, by the AN, the policy tothe UE through the dedicated transport channel; or receiving, by an AN,a policy of UE that is delivered by a core-network network elementthrough a dedicated transport channel; modifying, by the AN, the policy;and delivering, the AN, the modified policy to the UE through thededicated transport channel.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the AN determines thededicated transport channel based on indication information sent by anAMF.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the AN receives a reportthat is sent by the UE through the dedicated transport channel, wherethe report includes at least one network element identifier and aparameter value associated with each network element identifier; and theAN extracts, from the report, a parameter value associated with anidentifier of the AN.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, if the at least one networkelement identifier includes another network element identifier otherthan the identifier of the AN, the AN sends the report to a networkelement indicated by the another network element identifier.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of this disclosure providesa data transmission method, including: generating, by a PCF, a policy ofUE; sending, by the PCF, the policy to a UPF, and instructing the UPF toload the policy to a dedicated transport channel and send the channel tothe UE or an AN, where the policy of the UE may be generated by the PCF,or customized by another core-network network element.

In a possible implementation of this aspect, the generating, by a policycontrol function PCF, a policy of a terminal UE includes:

-   -   receiving, by the PCF, a policy customized by an NEF;    -   receiving, by the PCF, a policy customized by an AF;    -   receiving, by the PCF, a policy customized by a UDM; or    -   receiving, by the PCF, a policy customized by an SMF.

According to a fifth aspect, an embodiment of this disclosure provides aterminal, including a memory and a processor. The memory stores programcode, and the processor invokes the program code to perform the datatransmission method according to any one of the first aspect to eachpossible implementation of the first aspect.

According to a sixth aspect, this disclosure provides a computerreadable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium stores oneor more computer programs, and a terminal performs the data transmissionmethod according to the first aspect by running the one or more computerprograms.

According to a seventh aspect, an embodiment of this disclosure providesa core-network network element, the core-network network element is aUPF, and the core-network network element includes a memory and aprocessor. The memory stores program code, and the processor invokes theprogram code to perform the data transmission method according to anyone of the second aspect to each possible implementation of the secondaspect.

According to an eighth aspect, this disclosure provides a computerreadable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium stores oneor more computer programs, and a core-network network element performsthe data transmission method according to any one of the second aspectto each possible implementation of the second aspect by running the oneor more computer programs.

According to a ninth aspect, an embodiment of this disclosure providesan access-network network element, including a memory and a processor.The memory stores program code, and the processor invokes the programcode to perform the data transmission method according to any one of thethird aspect to each possible implementation of the third aspect.

According to a tenth aspect, this disclosure provides a computerreadable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium stores oneor more computer programs, and an access-network network elementperforms the data transmission method according to any one of the thirdaspect to each possible implementation of the third aspect by runningthe one or more computer programs.

According to an eleventh aspect, an embodiment of this disclosureprovides a core-network network element, the core-network networkelement is a PCF, and the core-network network element includes a memoryand a processor. The memory stores program code, and the processorinvokes the program code to perform the data transmission methodaccording to any one of the fourth aspect to each possibleimplementation of the fourth aspect.

According to a twelfth aspect, this disclosure provides a computerreadable storage medium, the computer readable storage medium stores oneor more computer programs, and a core-network network element performsthe data transmission method according to any one of the fourth aspectand each possible implementation of the fourth aspect by running the oneor more computer programs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of thisdisclosure or in the background more clearly, the following brieflydescribes the accompanying drawings required for describing theembodiments of this disclosure or the background.

FIG. 1 a is a schematic structural diagram of a next-generationcommunications system according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 1 b is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to anembodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a data transmission method accordingto an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 3 is another schematic flowchart of a data transmission methodaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 4 is another schematic flowchart of a data transmission methodaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to anembodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 6 is another schematic structural diagram of a terminal accordingto an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a user plane functionaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 8 is another schematic structural diagram of a user plane functionaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 9 a is a schematic structural diagram of an access-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 9 b is another schematic structural diagram of an access-networknetwork element according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 10 is another schematic structural diagram of an access-networknetwork element according to an embodiment of this disclosure;

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a policy control functionaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure; and

FIG. 12 is another schematic structural diagram of a policy controlfunction according to an embodiment of this disclosure.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

The following describes embodiments of this disclosure with reference tothe accompanying drawings in the embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 a is a schematic structural diagram of a next-generationcommunications system according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Thenext-generation communications system includes a core network, an accessnetwork (AN), and a terminal. The terminal includes, but is not limitedto, a mobile station, user equipment, a tablet computer, and a personaldigital assistant. In this disclosure, user equipment is used as anexample of the terminal. The access network may include a variety ofaccess-network network elements. For example, the access-network networkelements include a base station, a wireless AP (Access Point), and ahome NodeB. The core network includes an authentication server function(ASF), unified data management (UDM), a network exposure function (NEF),an application function (AF), an access management function, a sessionmanagement function, a policy control function (PCF), a user planefunction (UPF), and a data network (DN). An interface between networkelements in the next-generation communications system is shown in FIG. 1a , and is not repeatedly detailed herein. It should be noted thatdifferent core-network network elements in the core network may beconnected by using a bus, or may be connected in other manners. This isnot limited in the embodiments of this disclosure.

FIG. 1 b is a schematic structural diagram of UE according to anembodiment of this disclosure. The UE may include an application layer,an operating system, and a hardware layer from top downward. In oneembodiment, the hardware layer may be implemented by using a basebandchip. A policy client is disposed on the hardware layer. A PDU sessionmay be established between the UE, an AN, and a UPF. The PDU session isa dedicated transport channel that is used to dedicatedly transmit apolicy and a report. After a network side or the UE triggersestablishment of a PDU session, the policy client of the UE is bound tothe established PDU session, and the policy client is responsible forsending a report through the PDU session or receiving a policy throughthe PDU session, and executing the policy. The establishment of the PDUsession may be triggered by an AMF by sending a session establishmentrequest to the UE through an NG1 interface, or may be triggered by theUE in initiating an attach procedure.

In one embodiment, an interface is disposed on the policy client and theoperating system or the application layer of the UE. The interface isused to provide the operating system or the application layer with apolicy related to the operating system or the application layer, andcollect, from the operating system or the application layer, informationrequired for the report. For example, the collected information includesbut is not limited to one or more of a speed, a temperature, and abattery consumption speed. If a reporting condition is satisfied, areported is generated and sent to the network side.

In the foregoing embodiment, the dedicated transport channel isimplemented by a bottom layer of the UE, reports and policies aretransmitted on the dedicated transport channel, and duringimplementation, a protocol is not coupled with the application layer orthe operating system, so that the system is simple to implement.

FIG. 2 is a schematic flowchart of a data transmission method accordingto an embodiment of this disclosure. The method includes but is notlimited to the following operations.

Operation S201. UE sends a PDU session establishment request to an AN.The PDU session establishment request carries indication information,and the indication information is used to indicate that a PDU session tobe established is used to transmit a policy and a report. In oneembodiment, the indication information is further used to indicate thatthe PDU session to be established cannot be used to transmit servicedata. In one embodiment, in the PDU session establishment request, afield, for example, Data Network Name=Policy, is added. The added fieldis used to indicate that the PDU session established according to thePDU session established request is a dedicated transport channel, andthe dedicated transport channel is used to dedicatedly transmit a policyand a report. Correspondingly, if a network element that receives thePDU session established request learns Data Network Name=Policy throughparsing, it is determined that the PDU session established according tothe PDU session established request is a dedicated transport channel,and the dedicated transport channel is used to dedicatedly transmit apolicy and a report.

Operation S202. The AN forwards the PDU session establishment request toan AMF.

Operation S203. The AMF selects an SMF and sends the PDU sessionestablishment request to the SMF.

In one embodiment, the AMF receives the PDU session establishmentrequest, and determines, based on the indication information carried inthe PDU session establishment request, that the PDU session to beestablished is used to transmit a policy and a report and not used totransmit service data. The AMF determines an associated SMF, andforwards the PDU session establishment request to the SMF.

Operation S204. Establish a PDU session.

In one embodiment, the SMF receives the PDU session establishmentrequest, and determines, based on the indication information carried inthe PDU session establishment request, that the PDU session to beestablished is used to transmit a policy and a report and not used totransmit service data. The SMF instructs a UPF to allocate atime-frequency resource for the PDU session, and the UPF establishes thePDU session based on the allocated time-frequency resource. In this way,the PDU session used to dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report isestablished between the UE, the AN, and the UPF. The SMF notifies thatthe PDU session established by the UPF is used to transmit a policy anda report and not used to transmit service data. For the established PDUsession, the UPF needs to perform the following operation that isdifferent from an operation on an ordinary PDU session: The UPF loads apolicy to the PDU session and delivers the session to the UE, andextracts a report from the PDU session and sends the report to anetwork-side device.

Operation S205. The SMF returns a PDU session establishment response tothe AMF. The PDU session establishment response indicates that the PDUsession is established successfully. In one embodiment, the PDU sessionestablishment response carries indication information, and theindication information is used to indicate that the established PDUsession is a dedicated transport channel used to transmit a policy and areport.

Operation S206. The AMF sends the PDU session establishment response tothe AN.

In one embodiment, the AN determines, based on the indicationinformation carried in the PDU session establishment response, that theestablished PDU session is a dedicated transport channel used totransmit a policy and a report.

Operation S207. The AN sends the PDU session establishment response tothe UE. In one embodiment, the UE determines, based on the indicationinformation carried in the PDU session establishment response, that theestablished PDU session is a dedicated transport channel used totransmit a policy and a report. The UE sends reports and receivespolicies through the established PDU session.

Operation S208. The AMF sends a PDU session establishment resourcerequest to the AN. The PDU session establishment resource requestcarries indication information. The AN determines, based on theindication information, that the established PDU session is a dedicatedtransport channel used to transmit a policy and a report. For theestablished PDU session, the AN performs an operation different from theoperation on the ordinary PDU session: The AN loads a policy to theestablished PDU session and sends the session to the UE, and extracts areport from the PDU session and sends the report to a correspondingnetwork element.

Operation S209. Establish an air interface transmission resource betweenthe AN and the UE.

By implementing the foregoing embodiment, the PDU session that is usedto dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report is established between theUE, the AN, and a core-network network element to share a transportchannel. In addition, the AN participates in formulation of thepolicies, and can receive, through a non-control plane, the reports sentby the UE, thereby improving efficiency and flexibility of policydelivery and report reporting.

FIG. 3 is another schematic flowchart of a data transmission methodaccording to an embodiment of this disclosure. The method includes butis not limited to the following operations.

Operation S301. UE sends a report to an AN.

The report may carry one or more of a message sequence number, apriority, a sender, a receiver, and report content. The message sequencenumber is a sequence number of the report; and the priority is apriority of the report. The UE, the AN, or another network element maydifferentially transmit and process the report based on the priority,for example, transmit and process a report of a higher prioritypreferentially against a report of a lower priority. The sender is asender of the report. In one embodiment, the sender includes an originalsender. In one embodiment, if the report is transmitted through anintermediate node and modified by the intermediate node, the senders mayalso include the intermediate node. The receiver is a destinationnetwork element of the report. There may be one or more destinationnetwork elements. The report content is a type of a parameter that needsto be reported, and the report content includes but is not limited toone or more of a location, a speed, a hardware status, and anapplication status. For example, the hardware status includes one ormore of a remaining battery, a battery consumption speed, a batterytemperature, a battery temperature change speed, a CPU usage ratio, anda memory usage ratio. The application status includes a remaining bufferand/or a running status. The running status includes a foregroundrunning state and a background running state.

For example, receivers carried in the report include the AN and a UDM,and the UE sends the report to the AN first.

Operation S302. After receiving the report sent by the UE, the AN sendsthe report to a UDM.

For example, the AN receives the report sent by the UE, parses thereport and learns that the receivers carried in the report are the ANand the UDM. The AN stores the report, the AN determines that thereceivers further include the UDM, the AN sends the report to the UDM,and the UDM receives and stores the report. In one embodiment, differentnetwork elements of a core network are connected by using a bus, and theAN may send the report to the UDM through a PDU session. The PDU sessionused to dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report is establishedbetween the UE, the AN, and a UPF, and the UPF extracts the report fromthe PDU session, and parses the report to learn senders carried in thereport. In one embodiment, if the sender is any one of an AMF, an SMF,the UDM, a PCF, or an NEF, the UPF will re-encapsulate the report andsends the report to the bus through a control plane interface, or theUPF directly sends the encapsulated report to a correspondingdestination network element, or the UPF sends the encapsulated report toa corresponding destination network element by using the SMF or by usingthe SMF and the PCF.

In the foregoing embodiment, the transport channel that is used totransmit a policy and a report between the UE, the AN, and acore-network network element is shared by using the bus, therebyimproving efficiency and flexibility of policy delivery and reportreporting.

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a data transmission method accordingto an embodiment of this disclosure. In this embodiment of thisdisclosure, the method includes the following operations.

Operation S401. An NEF sends, to a PCF, a policy customized by athird-party device.

In one embodiment, the third-party device includes but is not limited toone or more of an AMF, an SMF, a UDM, and an AF. In one embodiment, thepolicy may carry one or more of a message sequence number, a priority, asender, a receiver, and report content. The message sequence number is asequence number of the policy, and the priority is a priority of areport. Based on the priority, the UE, the AN, or another networkelement transmits and processes the policy differentially, for example,transmits and processes a report of a higher priority preferentiallyagainst a policy of a lower priority. The sender is a sender of thepolicy. The sender includes an original sender. If the policy istransmitted by using an intermediate node and modified by theintermediate node, the senders may also include the intermediate node.The receiver is a destination network element of the policy. There maybe one or more of destination network elements. Types of the policyinclude but are not limited to one or more of a network selectionpolicy, a route selection policy, a slice selection policy, a work modeselection policy, a session continuity policy, and an informationreporting policy. The network selection policy is a policy for the UE toselect a type of access network, and the route selection policy is apolicy for selecting a transmission route in a policy transmissionprocess.

The slice selection policy is a policy for the UE to select a dataslice. In one embodiment, the slice selection policy includes one ormore of a trigger condition and a slice identifier. The triggercondition includes but is not limited to one or more of a designatedlocation, a designated access network type, and a designated timeperiod. The slice identifier is an identity of a data slice. When thetrigger condition in the slice selection policy is satisfied, the UEaccesses a corresponding slice based on the slice identifier. The UE mayaccess a plurality of slices. For example, the trigger condition in theslice selection policy includes a designated location, a designatedaccess network type, and a designated time period. If a current locationof the UE, an identifier of a current access network, and a current timemeet the trigger condition, the UE accesses a slice corresponding to theslice identifier.

The slice selection policy may also be a policy for selecting a dataslice by an application installed on the UE. The slice selection policymay include one or more of a trigger condition of the slice selectionpolicy, an application identifier, and a slice identifier. The triggercondition includes one or more of a designated location, a designatedaccess network type, and a designated time period. The applicationidentifier is an identity of the application installed on the UE. Theslice identifier is an identity of a slice in a core network. If the UEsatisfies the trigger condition in the slice selection policy, anapplication corresponding to the application identifier on the UE mayaccess a data slice corresponding to the slice identifier. In oneembodiment, the application may access a plurality of data slices.

The work mode selection policy is a policy for the UE to select a workmode. The work mode includes but is not limited to an Internet of things(IoT) mode and a mobile broadband (MBB) mode.

The session continuity policy is a policy for an application on the UEto select an SSC (session and service continuity) mode. In oneembodiment, the session continuity policy includes one or more of atrigger condition, an application identifier, and an SSC modeidentifier. The trigger condition includes one or more of a designatedlocation, a designated access network type, and a designated timeperiod. The application identifier is an identifier of an applicationinstalled on the UE. The SSC mode identifier is an identity of an SSCmode. If the UE satisfies the trigger condition in the sessioncontinuity policy, an application corresponding to the applicationidentifier on the UE chooses to associate with an SSC mode correspondingto the SSC mode identifier.

The information reporting policy is a policy for the UE to report areport. In one embodiment, the information reporting policy includes oneor more of a trigger condition, report content, a reporting frequency,and a reporting target. The reporting condition is a trigger conditionfor the UE to submit a report. The UE can submit a report only when thereporting condition is satisfied. The report content is informationrequired by the UE when the UE collects the report. The collectedinformation includes but is not limited to one or more of a speed, atemperature, a battery consumption speed, a memory usage ratio, and aCPU usage ratio. The reporting frequency is a quantity of times the UEsubmits reports within a designated time. The reporting target is adestination network element to which the report is sent.

For example, the sender carried in the policy is the NEF, and thereceiver carried in the policy is the UE, the reporting conditioncarried in the policy is that the speed is less than 100 but not lessthan 10 and that the temperature is less than 60 but not less than 30,the report content is the battery consumption speed, the reportingfrequency is 1 s, and the reporting target is the UDM.

Operation S402. The PCF sends the policy to an AN.

Operation S403. The AN delivers the policy to the UE, and the UEexecutes the policy after receiving the policy.

In one embodiment, the PCF may send the policy to the UE through a PDUsession that is used to dedicatedly transmit policies. A specificprocess may be: A PDU session is established between the UE, the AN, andthe UPF; the PCF sends the policy to the UPF; the UPF loads the policyto the PDU session and sends the session to the UE or the AN; and the UEor the AN executes the received policy.

In one embodiment, the PCF may add the policy to NAS signaling, and sendthe NAS signaling to the AMF; the AMF sends the NAS signaling to the UEthrough a control plane interface between the AMF and the UE, or the AMFsends the NAS signaling to the AN through a control plane interfacebetween the AMF and the AN.

It should be noted that this embodiment of this disclosure is notlimited to delivering the policy through a dedicated PDU session ordedicated NAS signaling, but may also deliver the policy through an IPprotocol between the UE and the PCF in the prior art.

In this embodiment of this disclosure, the policy can be customized by athird party, thereby further improving efficiency and flexibility ofpolicy delivery.

FIG. 5 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to anembodiment of this disclosure. The terminal 5 may include a receivingmodule 501 and an execution module 502, and units are described indetail below.

The receiving module 501 is configured to receive a policy sent by apolicy control function PCF.

The execution module 502 is configured to execute the policy.

In one embodiment, the receiving module 501 is configured to:

-   -   receive the policy sent by the PCF through a dedicated transport        channel.

In one embodiment, the dedicated transport channel is a protocol dataunit PDU session or non-access stratum NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, the terminal 5 further includes:

-   -   an establishment module, configured to: trigger establishment of        the dedicated transport channel, and determine the dedicated        transport channel based on indication information sent by a        session management function SMF.

In one embodiment, the policy includes one or more of a networkselection policy, a route selection policy, a data slice selectionpolicy, a work mode selection policy, a session continuity policy, andan information reporting policy.

In one embodiment, the execution module is specifically configured to:

-   -   obtain, by the UE if the policy is an information reporting        policy, a reporting condition and report content included in the        information reporting policy;    -   obtain a parameter value of the report content, and generate a        report based on the parameter value; and    -   send the report to a network-side device, if the reporting        condition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, the report content includes one or more of a terminallocation, a speed, a hardware status, an application status, and anetwork resource occupation status.

In one embodiment, the policy is a slice selection policy, the sliceselection policy includes a trigger condition and a slice identifier,and the trigger condition includes one or more of a designated location,a designated access network type, and a designated time period; and

-   -   the execution module 502 is further configured to:    -   access a slice corresponding to the slice identifier, if the        trigger condition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, the policy is a slice selection policy, the sliceselection policy includes a trigger condition, a slice identifier, andan application identifier, and the trigger condition includes one ormore of a designated location, a designated access network type, and adesignated time period; and

-   -   the execution module 502 is further configured to:    -   instruct, if the trigger condition is satisfied, an application        corresponding to the application identifier to access a slice        corresponding to the slice identifier.

In one embodiment, the policy is a session continuity policy, thesession continuity policy includes a trigger condition, a session andservice continuity SSC mode identifier, and an application identifier,and the trigger condition includes one or more of a designated location,a designated access network type, and a designated time period; and

-   -   the execution module 502 is further configured to:    -   instruct, by the UE if the trigger condition is satisfied, an        application corresponding to the application identifier to        associate with an SSC mode corresponding to the SSC mode        identifier.

It should be noted that, for implementation of each unit, refer to thecorresponding descriptions of the method embodiments shown in FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 .

FIG. 6 is a schematic structural diagram of a terminal according to anembodiment of this disclosure. The terminal 6 includes a processor 601,a memory 602, and a transceiver 603. The processor 601, the memory 602,and the transceiver 603 are connected to each other by using a bus.

The memory 602 may be, but is not limited to, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM), or a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). The memory602 is configured to store relevant instructions and data. Thetransceiver 603 is configured to receive and send data.

The processor 601 may be one or more central processing units (CPU).When the processor 601 is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or maybe a multi-core CPU.

The processor 601 is configured to read program code stored in thememory 602, and perform the following operations:

-   -   receiving, by using the transceiver 603, a policy sent by a        policy control function PCF; and    -   executing the policy.

In one embodiment, the receiving, by the processor 601, a policy sent bya policy control function PCF includes:

-   -   receiving, by using the transceiver 603, the policy sent by the        PCF through a dedicated transport channel.

In one embodiment, the dedicated transport channel is a protocol dataunit PDU session or non-access stratum NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, before the receiving, a policy sent by a policycontrol function PCF, the processor 601 is further configured to:

trigger establishment of the dedicated transport channel, and determinethe dedicated transport channel based on indication information sent bya session management function SMF.

In one embodiment, the policy includes one or more of a networkselection policy, a route selection policy, a data slice selectionpolicy, a work mode selection policy, a session continuity policy, andan information reporting policy.

In one embodiment, the executing, by the processor 601, the policyincludes:

-   -   obtaining, if the policy is an information reporting policy, a        reporting condition and report content included in the        information reporting policy;    -   obtaining a parameter value of the report content, and        generating a report based on the parameter value; and    -   sending, by using the transceiver 603, the report to a        network-side device, if the reporting condition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, the report content includes one or more of a terminallocation, a speed, a hardware status, an application status, and anetwork resource occupation status.

In one embodiment, the policy is a slice selection policy, the sliceselection policy includes a trigger condition and a slice identifier,and the trigger condition includes one or more of a designated location,a designated access network type, and a designated time period; and

-   -   the executing, by the processor 601, the policy includes:    -   accessing a slice corresponding to the slice identifier, if the        trigger condition is satisfied.

In one embodiment, the policy is a slice selection policy, the sliceselection policy includes a trigger condition, a slice identifier, andan application identifier, and the trigger condition includes one ormore of a designated location, a designated access network type, and adesignated time period; and

-   -   the executing, by the processor 601, the policy includes:    -   instructing, if the trigger condition is satisfied, an        application corresponding to the application identifier to        access a slice corresponding to the slice identifier.

In one embodiment, the policy is a session continuity policy, thesession continuity policy includes a trigger condition, a session andservice continuity SSC mode identifier, and an application identifier,and the trigger condition includes one or more of a designated location,a designated access network type, and a designated time period; and

-   -   the executing, by the processor 601, the policy includes:    -   instructing, if the trigger condition is satisfied, an        application corresponding to the application identifier to        associate with an SSC mode corresponding to the SSC mode        identifier.

By implementing the foregoing embodiment, the PDU session that is usedto dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report is established between UE,an AN, and a core-network network element to share a transport channel.In addition, the AN participates in formulation of the policies, and,can receive, through a non-control plane, the reports sent by the UE,thereby improving efficiency and flexibility of policy delivery andreport reporting.

FIG. 7 is a schematic structural diagram of a core-network networkelement according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Thecore-network network element 7 is a user plane function, and the userplane function 7 may include a receiving module 701, a determiningmodule 702, and a sending module 703. The units are described in detailbelow.

The receiving module 701 is configured to receive a policy of userequipment UE sent by a policy control function PCF.

The determining module 702 is configured to determine a dedicatedtransport channel.

The sending module 703 is configured to load the policy to the dedicatedtransport channel and send the channel to the UE.

In one embodiment, the determining module 702 is configured to:

-   -   determine the dedicated transport channel based on indication        information sent by an SMF.

In one embodiment, the user plane function further includes:

-   -   a forwarding module, configured to extract, from the dedicated        transport channel, a report reported by the UE; and    -   forward the report to unified data management UDM; or    -   forward the report to the policy control function PCF by using        the session management function SMF; or    -   forward the report to the policy control function PCF.

In one embodiment, the policy includes one or more of a networkselection policy, a route selection policy, a slice selection policy, awork mode selection policy, a session continuity policy, and aninformation reporting policy.

It should be noted that, for implementation of each unit, refer to thecorresponding descriptions of the method embodiments shown in FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 .

FIG. 8 is a schematic structural diagram of a core-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The core-networknetwork element is a user plane function, and the user plane function 8includes a processor 801, a memory 802, and a communications interface803. The processor 801, the memory 802, and the communications interface803 are connected to each other by using a bus.

The memory 802 may be, but is not limited to, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM), or a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). The memory802 is configured to store relevant instructions and data.

The processor 801 may be one or more central processing units (CPU).When the processor 801 is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU or maybe a multi-core CPU.

The processor 801 is configured to read program code stored in thememory 802, and perform the following operations:

-   -   receiving, by using the communications interface 803, a policy        of user equipment UE sent by a policy control function PCF;    -   determining a dedicated transport channel; and    -   loading the policy to the dedicated transport channel and        sending the channel to the UE.

In one embodiment, the determining, by the processor 801, a dedicatedtransport channel includes:

-   -   determining the dedicated transport channel based on indication        information sent by an SMF.

In one embodiment, the processor 801 is further configured to:

-   -   extract, from the dedicated transport channel, a report reported        by the UE;    -   forward the report to unified data management UDM; or    -   forward the report to the policy control function PCF by using        the session management function SMF; or    -   forward the report to the policy control function PCF.

In one embodiment, the policy includes one or more of a networkselection policy, a route selection policy, a slice selection policy, awork mode selection policy, a session continuity policy, and aninformation reporting policy.

By implementing the foregoing embodiment, the PDU session that is usedto dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report is established between UE,an AN, and a core-network network element to share a transport channel.In addition, the AN participates in formulation of the policies, and canreceive, through a non-control plane, the reports sent by the UE,thereby improving efficiency and flexibility of policy delivery andreport reporting.

FIG. 9 a is a schematic structural diagram of an access-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Theaccess-network network element 9 may include a determining module 901, areceiving module 902, and a sending module 903. The units are describedin detail below.

The determining module 901 is configured to determine a dedicatedtransport channel.

The receiving module 902 is configured to receive a policy of UE that isdelivered by a core-network network element through the dedicatedtransport channel.

The sending module is configured to send the policy to the UE throughthe dedicated transport channel.

In one embodiment, the determining module 901 is configured to:

-   -   determine the dedicated transport channel based on indication        information sent by an AMF.

In one embodiment, the dedicated transport channel includes a PDUsession or NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, the access-network network element 9 furtherincludes:

-   -   an extraction module, configured to receive a report that is        sent by the UE through the dedicated transport channel, where        the report includes at least one network element identifier and        a parameter value associated with each network element        identifier; and    -   extract, from the report, a parameter value associated with an        identifier of the AN.

In one embodiment, the access-network network element 9 furtherincludes:

-   -   a forwarding module, configured to: if the at least one network        element identifier includes another network element identifier        other than the identifier of the AN, send the report to a        network element indicated by the another network element        identifier.

FIG. 9 b is a schematic structural diagram of an access-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Theaccess-network network element may include a receiving module 901, amodification module 902, and a sending module 903.

The receiving module 901 is configured to receive a policy of UE that isdelivered by a core-network network element through the dedicatedtransport channel.

The modification module 902 is configured to modify the policy.

The sending module is configured to deliver the modified policy to theUE through the dedicated transport channel.

In one embodiment, the dedicated transport channel includes a PDUsession or NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, the access-network network element further includes:

-   -   an extraction module, configured to receive a report that is        sent by the UE through the dedicated transport channel, where        the report includes at least one network element identifier and        a parameter value associated with each network element        identifier; and    -   extract, from the report, a parameter value associated with an        identifier of the AN.

In one embodiment, the access-network network element further includes:

-   -   a forwarding module, configured to: if the at least one network        element identifier includes another network element identifier        other than the identifier of the AN, send the report to a        network element indicated by the another network element        identifier.

It should be noted that, for implementation of each unit, refer to thecorresponding descriptions of the method embodiments shown in FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 .

FIG. 10 is a schematic structural diagram of an access-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure. Theaccess-network network element 10 includes a processor 1001, a memory1002, and a transceiver 1003. The processor 1001 and the memory 1002 areconnected to each other by using a bus.

The memory 1002 may be, but is not limited to, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM), or a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). The memory1002 is configured to store relevant instructions and data.

The processor 1001 may be one or more central processing units (CPU).When the processor 1001 is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU ormay be a multi-core CPU.

The processor 1001 is configured to read program code stored in thememory 1002, and perform the following operations:

-   -   determining a dedicated transport channel;    -   receiving a policy of UE that is delivered by a core-network        network element through the dedicated transport channel;    -   sending the policy to the UE through the dedicated transport        channel; or    -   receiving a policy of UE that is delivered by a core-network        network element through the dedicated transport channel;    -   modifying the policy; and    -   delivering the modified policy to the UE through the dedicated        transport channel.

In one embodiment, the determining, by the processor 1001, a dedicatedtransport channel includes:

-   -   determining the dedicated transport channel based on indication        information sent by an AMF.

In one embodiment, the dedicated transport channel includes a PDUsession or NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, the processor 1001 is further configured to:

-   -   receive a report that is sent by the UE through the dedicated        transport channel, where the report includes at least one        network element identifier and a parameter value associated with        each network element identifier; and    -   extract, from the report, a parameter value associated with an        identifier of the AN.

In one embodiment, the processor 1001 is further configured to:

-   -   if the at least one network element identifier includes another        network element identifier other than the identifier of the AN,        send the report to a network element indicated by the another        network element identifier.

By implementing the foregoing embodiment, the PDU session that is usedto dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report is established between theUE, the AN, and the core-network network element to share a transportchannel. In addition, the AN participates in formulation of thepolicies, and can receive, through a non-control plane, the reports sentby the UE, thereby improving efficiency and flexibility of policydelivery and report reporting.

FIG. 11 is a schematic structural diagram of a core-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The core-networknetwork element is a policy control function, and the policy controlfunction 11 may include a generation module 1101 and a sending module1102. The units are described in detail below.

The generation module 1101 is configured to generate a policy of userequipment UE.

The sending module 1102 is configured to: send the policy to a userplane function UPF, and instruct the UPF to load the policy to adedicated transport channel and send the channel to the UE or an accessnetwork AN; or

-   -   send the policy to an access management function AMF, and        instruct the AMF to forward the policy to the UE or the AN by        using non-access stratum NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, the generation module 1101 is configured to:

-   -   receive a policy customized by a network exposure function NEF;    -   receive a policy customized by an application function AF;    -   receive a policy customized by unified data management UDM; or    -   receive a policy customized by a session management function        SMF.

It should be noted that, for implementation of each unit, refer to thecorresponding descriptions of the method embodiments shown in FIG. 2 toFIG. 4 .

FIG. 12 is a schematic structural diagram of a core-network networkelement according to an embodiment of this disclosure. The core-networknetwork element is a policy control function, and the policy controlfunction 12 includes a processor 1201, a memory 1202, and acommunications interface 1203. The processor 1201, the memory 1202, andthe communications interface 1203 are connected to each other by using abus.

The memory 1202 may be, but is not limited to, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM), or a compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM). The memory1202 is configured to store relevant instructions and data.

The processor 1201 may be one or more central processing units (CPU).When the processor 1201 is a CPU, the CPU may be a single-core CPU ormay be a multi-core CPU.

The processor 1201 is configured to read program code stored in thememory 1202, and perform the following operations:

-   -   generating a policy of user equipment UE; and    -   sending the policy to a user plane function UPF, and instructing        the UPF to load the policy to a dedicated transport channel and        send the channel to the UE or an access network AN; or    -   sending the policy to an access management function AMF, and        instructing the AMF to forward the policy to the UE or the AN        through non-access stratum NAS signaling.

In one embodiment, the generating, by the processor 1201, a policy ofuser equipment UE includes:

-   -   receiving a policy customized by a network exposure function        NEF;    -   receiving a policy customized by an application function AF;    -   receiving a policy customized by a unified data management UDM        function; or    -   receiving a policy customized by a session management function        SMF.

By implementing the foregoing embodiment, the PDU session that is usedto dedicatedly transmit a policy and a report is established between theUE, the AN, and the core-network network element to share a transportchannel. In addition, the AN participates in formulation of thepolicies, and can receive, through a non-control plane, the reports sentby the UE, thereby improving efficiency and flexibility of policydelivery and report reporting.

A person of ordinary skill in the art may understand that all or some ofthe processes of the methods in the embodiments may be implemented by acomputer program instructing relevant hardware. The program may bestored in a computer readable storage medium. When the program is run,the processes of the methods in the embodiments are performed. Theforegoing storage medium includes: any medium that can store programcode, such as a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk, or an optical disc.

What is claimed is:
 1. A data transmission method, comprising:receiving, by a policy client of a terminal, non-access stratum (NAS)signaling from a policy control function (PCF) through an access andmobility management function (AMF) and a control plane interface betweenthe AMF and the terminal, the NAS signaling comprising a slice selectionpolicy, the terminal comprising an application layer, an operatingsystem, and a hardware layer, wherein the policy client is disposed onthe hardware layer, and the slice selection policy comprises a triggercondition, a slice identifier, and an application identifiercorresponding to an application in the application layer; and accessing,by the application, a slice corresponding to the slice identifier whenthe trigger condition is satisfied.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the trigger condition comprises one or more of a designatedlocation or a designated time period.
 3. An apparatus, comprising anapplication layer, an operating system, and a hardware layer; wherein apolicy client is disposed on the hardware layer, wherein the hardwarelayer further comprises: a processor; and a memory coupled with theprocessor, wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executedby the processor, causes the apparatus to: receive non-access stratum(NAS) signaling from a policy control function (PCF) through an accessand mobility management function (AMF) and a control plane interfacebetween the AMF and the apparatus, wherein the NAS signaling comprises aslice selection policy, wherein the slice selection policy comprises atrigger condition, a slice identifier, and an application identifiercorresponding to an application in the application layer; and whereinthe application in the application layer is configured to access a slicecorresponding to the slice identifier in the case that the triggercondition is satisfied.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 3, whereinthe trigger condition comprises one or more of a designated location ora designated time period.